Hasner Seeks US Senate as 'Authentic Conservative'

The son of lifelong Democratic New York City schoolteachers labels himself as an "authentic conservative" in his campaign to be one of Florida's U.S. senators. Adam Hasner stands strong against doubters who point out his left-leaning background and maintains that he stands for the core principals of small government and open markets.

“When I say I’m an authentic conservative, it’s because, when you look at who I am and where I come from, it’d be a lot easier to have grown up a Democrat,” the Republican former majority leader of the Florida House told DailyCaller.com. He announced Monday that he is seeking the GOP nod to run against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson,

The new batch of Republican lawmakers in 2012 will be shouldered with the responsibility of challenging their colleagues on both sides of the aisle, said Hasner, who recently told Newsmax.TV that GOP members of Congress needed to back U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan.

“Right now, we need more Republicans who are not only prepared to take on Democrats but take on Republicans when they stray,” the website quotes Hasner as saying. “I don’t blame just Democrats for the problems we face today. I think Republican share in blame. That’s why we need leaders in Washington who will have courage to challenge both Democrats and Republicans.”